Methods and systems for storing and transporting gases

Abstract

A method and system of storing and transporting valuable gases comprising mixing the gases with liquid natural gas to form a mixture. The mixture is transported in vessel configured for cooling the mixture by boiling a portion of liquid natural gas. The transportation vessel is further configured to be cooled in the absence of valuable gases by a remaining portion of liquid natural gas. The method further comprises recycling liquid natural gas through the vessel for pre-cooling the vessel prior to loading the mixture of valuable gases and liquid natural gas.

1 . A process for converting natural gas to hydrocarbon products comprising:
 (a) processing natural gas to form a first gas stream by at least one process chosen from the group consisting of partial oxidation, thermal cracking, plasma cracking, and combinations thereof, wherein said first gas stream comprises a natural gas product selected from the group consisting of acetylene, ethylene, propylene, gasoline blend-stock, gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, and combinations thereof;   (b) producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from natural gas;   (c) blending at least a portion of the LNG with the first gas stream; and   (d) forming a transportable and storable mixture.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein forming a transportable and storable mixture comprises forming a continuous liquid phase mixture. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising returning a portion of the produced LNG to (a). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein (a) further comprises removing at least one contaminant selected from the group consisting of sulfur, mercury, heavy metals, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, sulfur containing compounds, mercury containing compounds, solid particulate matter, water, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein (a) further comprises manufacturing ethylene and separating ethylene from the first gas stream. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising utilizing the separated ethylene in (b) as a refrigerant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein (a) or (b) or both further comprise receiving an auxiliary gas stream from an air separation unit (ASU), wherein the auxiliary gas stream comprises at least one gas selected from the group consisting of air, oxygen, nitrogen, argon, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 receiving a portion of oxygen from the ASU for (a); and 
 receiving at least a portion of nitrogen, argon, and air from the ASU for both (a) and (b). 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 receiving at least a portion of nitrogen, argon, and air from the ASU for (a); and 
 receiving at least a portion of oxygen from the ASU for both (a) and (b). 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein (b) further comprises:
 receiving energy from a pressure differential of inlet reservoir gas through a turbo expander; and 
 directing at least a portion of the energy to compress a high value gas (HVG) during (a). 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein directing at least a portion of the energy to compress HVG further comprises:
 passing the compressed HVG through a turbo expander; and 
 lowering the temperature of the HVG. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein lowering the temperature of the HVG further comprises processing the HVG, wherein the HVG is liquefied, solidified, or prepared for blending with the LNG for storage or transport. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein (a) further comprises producing a liquid fuel. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising providing the liquid fuel to power an action or equipment, wherein said action or equipment is selected from the group consisting of vehicular transport, localized power generation, mobile power generation, fluid transport, refrigeration systems, compressors, expanders, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein (a) further comprises:
 producing a byproduct combustible gas stream comprising at least one gas component selected from the group consisting of methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, ethylene, water, and combinations thereof; and 
 conveying the byproduct combustible gas stream to a power generation unit for producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from natural gas. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein conveying the byproduct combustible gas stream to a power generation unit further comprises:
 directing the power produced at the power generation unit to (a) for an operation chosen from the group consisting of compression, pumping, blending, separation, operating motors, operating control equipment, and combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein (a) further comprises:
 producing a carbon dioxide stream; 
 directing the carbon dioxide stream to a natural gas reservoir for stimulating the reservoir; and 
 utilizing the natural gas from the reservoir in (b). 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising producing a fire suppression stream comprising carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein (a) further comprises:
 separating acetylene from the first gas stream; and 
 forming a welding gas stream comprising acetylene. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 adjusting operations to provide more LNG, wherein the LNG production is in response to at least one demand indicator chosen from the group consisting of in anticipation of periods of high LNG demand, in response to high LNG demand, and combination thereof; and 
 adjusting operations to provide more natural gas products, wherein the natural gas products are produced in response to at least one demand indicators chosen from the group consisting of in anticipation of periods of high natural gas products demand, in response to high natural gas products demand, and combination thereof. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1  wherein producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) further comprises producing additional hydrocarbon components selected from the group consisting of ethane, propane, butane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein producing additional hydrocarbon components further comprises separating the additional hydrocarbon components from methane. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising utilizing the additional hydrocarbon components for (a). 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein separating the additional hydrocarbon components from methane further comprises separating ethane from the additional hydrocarbon components. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising conveying the transportable and storable mixture to a LNG transportation vessel. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein conveying the transportable and storable mixture to a LNG transportation vessel further comprises providing a vessel capable of transporting blends of LNG with natural gas products. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  wherein conveying the transportable and storable mixture further comprises thermal regulation. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising conveying the first gas stream and the LNG to the LNG transportation vessel separately, wherein the LNG transportation vessel is capable of transporting the first gas stream and the LNG separately. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the LNG and the first gas stream are stored in adjacent compartments of the LNG transportation vessel and the adjacent compartments share at least a portion of one wall for heat transfer. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the vessel that contains the first gas stream is substantially encompassed by the compartment that contains the LNG. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 heating the transportable and storable mixture; 
 vaporizing a portion of the mixture to form a boil-off gas, wherein the vaporized portion has a different molar composition from the transportable and storable mixture. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising cooling the boil-off gas to recover a condensed liquid. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein recovering the condensed liquid further comprises at least one process selected from the group consisting of refrigeration, heat exchange, cryogenic separation, selective absorption, adsorption, phase separation, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 introducing the transportable and storable mixture to a vessel; 
 changing the pressure of the vessel; and 
 vaporizing at least a portion of transportable and storable mixture to form a boil-off gas, wherein the boil-off gas have a different molar composition than the transportable and storable mixture. 
 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein the boil-off gas is cooled and at least a portion thereof is recovered as condensed liquid. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein recovering the condensed liquid further comprises utilizing the boil-off gas in a process selected from the group consisting of energy generation by combustion, cooling another medium, disposal, flaring, venting, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34  wherein recovering the condensed liquid further comprises:
 returning at least a first portion of the condensed liquid to the vessel; and 
 lowering the temperature of the vessel, wherein lowering the temperature further lowers the vapor pressure of the vessel. 
 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 transporting the transportable and storable mixture to a different location; and 
 separating the mixture to form an LNG stream and a second gas stream comprising a natural gas product selected from the group consisting of acetylene, ethylene, propylene, gasoline blend-stock, gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, and combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38  wherein separating the mixture comprises a process selected from the group consisting of cryogenic separation, cryogenic distillation, distillation, crystallization, selective absorption, selective adsorption, osmosis, reverse osmosis, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38  wherein separating the mixture comprises directing the mixture to a separation facility located in a place selected from the group consisting of in, on, near a natural or man-made body of water, on land, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the separation facility further comprises a facility selected from the group consisting of blend transport vessels, free floating structures, ships, barges, platforms, moored vessels, anchored structures, anchored ships, anchored barges, anchored platforms, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40  wherein the separation facility is at least partially on land. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the different location comprises a receiver configured to maintain the mixture in a state selected from the group consisting of liquids, cryogenic liquids, slurries, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the different location comprises a facility configured for storing, processing, and distributing LNG. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the different location comprises a facility configured for storing, processing, and distributing the second gas stream. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 38  wherein separating the mixture to form an LNG stream and a second gas stream further comprises:
 heating the mixture to gasify at least a portion of the mixture, wherein heat is provided by a source selected from the group consisting of integral heated equipment, integral fired equipment, remote heated equipment, ambient heat from the air, fresh water, sea water, earth, combustion heat from engines, exhaust from combustion engines, compressors, motorized equipment, electrically powered equipment, and combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the different location further comprises a secondary processing unit selected from the group consisting of an air separation unit, an ethylene/ethane separation plant, a differential boil-off re-liquefaction facility, a dry-ice processor, a crystallization unit, a cryogenic cooling process, and combinations thereof; and
 wherein the secondary processing unit is configured for utilizing the cold value of the transportable and storable mixture and the streams separated therefrom. 
 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 38  wherein the different location further comprises a cryogenic separation tower (CST) for separating the second gas stream from LNG. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the CST is configured to be operated as a heat sink and the CST re-boiler is configured to be operated as a heat source; wherein the heat source and heat sink are used to generate electricity. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising:
 converting the second gas stream into a phase selected from the group consisting of liquids, gases, supercritical fluids, and combinations thereof, and 
 pressurizing said phase for distribution. 
 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50 , further comprising distributing said phase utilizing an insulated pipe. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising
 removing a contaminant selected from the group consisting of sulfur, mercury, oxygen, oils, waxes, sand, soil, debris, particulates, and combinations thereof; and 
 wherein removing the contaminant utilizes a unit selected from the group consisting of inlet filter separators, mist extractors, carbon filters, mol sieves, selective absorbents, and combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 38  further comprising:
 introducing the mixture to a vessel for storage; 
 removing vapor produced during storage; 
 re-liquefying the vapor produced during storage; and 
 conveying the re-liquefied vapor to a CST. 
 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein conveying the vapor to a CST further comprises introducing the vapor to a vapor inlet of the CST, wherein the vapor composition inside the operating CST at that inlet point more closely compares to the composition of the introduced vapor than the vapor composition inside the CST at the normal feed location. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein removing vapor produced during storage further comprises:
 flashing the transportable and storable mixture in a separator; and   producing a lean vapor and an enriched liquid, wherein the lean vapor and enriched liquid are fed to the CST.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the lean vapor and enriched liquid are fed to the CST in a fashion such that the lean vapor composition is closest to the vapor composition inside the CST at vapor feeding location, and the enriched liquid composition is closest to the liquid composition inside the CST at the liquid feeding location. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 48  further comprising heating and gasifying the mixture, wherein said heating is partially provided by the condensation of overhead gases in the CST overhead condenser. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein separating the mixture to form an LNG stream and a second gas stream further comprises:
 directing a portion of the heat derived from compression of the vapor stream or pumping of the liquid stream of the second gas stream; and   conveying the heat through an heat exchange to the CST re-boiler.   
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 48  further comprising collecting the CST bottoms, wherein the CST bottoms comprise ethane. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59  further comprising separating ethane from the remaining components of the CST bottoms using a method selected from the group of consisting of cryogenic separation, cryogenic distillation, distillation, crystallization, selective absorption, selective adsorption, osmosis, reverse osmosis, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 substantially removing ethane from the LNG; and 
 conveying ethane to (a). 
 
     
     
         62 . A method for transporting gases, comprising:
 mixing a first gas stream with a liquid natural gas stream to form a liquid mixture at a first location;   transporting the liquid mixture in a vessel to a second location;   removing the mixture from the vessel;   separating the mixture to form a product gas and liquid natural gas; and   recycling the liquid natural gas to the vessel.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the first gas stream comprises a high value gas. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the first gas stream comprises at least one gas chosen from the group consisting of ethylene, acetylene, propylene noble gases, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, phosgene, methyl-ethyl ether, tri-fluorobromoethane, chlorotrifluoromethane, chlorodifluoromethane, di-chloromonofluorormethane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, butene, dibutene, vinyl acetylene, methyl acetylene, water, hydrogen, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the first gas stream comprises a liquefied gas. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein the liquefied gas is in greater proportion than the liquid natural gas in the liquid mixture. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein mixing the first gas stream with the liquid natural gas further comprises reducing the temperature of the mixture to below the boiling temperature of the liquid natural gas and the liquefied gas in the first gas stream. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein mixing the first gas stream with the liquid natural gas stream further comprises allowing the liquid natural gas to boil. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein allowing the natural gas to boil comprises cooling the first gas stream. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein transporting the mixture further comprises removing a portion of the mixture for at least one process chosen from the group consisting of fueling a refrigeration system, fueling a transport vehicle, and combination thereof. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein separating the mixture further comprises producing a second gas stream for sale on a market at the second location. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein recycling the liquid natural gas further comprises cooling the vessel during the return trip from the second location to the first location. 
     
     
         73 . A method for transporting gases, comprising
 mixing a first gas with liquid natural gas at a first location, to form a first liquid-gas mixture;   loading a first vessel with the first liquid-gas mixture at the first location;   cooling the first vessel by boiling the liquid natural gas;   transporting the first vessel to a second location;   off-loading the mixture at the second location;   separating the mixture into the first gas and the liquid natural gas; and   recycling the liquid natural gas to the first vessel.   
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the first gas comprises a component with a market value higher than the market value of liquid natural gas. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the first gas comprises at least one component chosen from the group consisting of ethylene, acetylene, propylene noble gases, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, phosgene, methyl-ethyl ether, tri-fluorobromoethane, chlorotrifluoromethane, chlorodifluoromethane, di-chloromonofluorormethane, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, butene, dibutene, vinyl acetylene, methyl acetylene, water, hydrogen, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 73  wherein mixing the first gas with liquid natural gas further comprises liquefying the first gas. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein recycling the liquid natural gas to the vessel further comprises pre-cooling the vessel. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising,
 mixing a second gas with the liquid natural gas, to form a second liquid-gas mixture;   loading a second vessel with the second liquid-gas mixture at the second location;   cooling the second vessel by boiling the liquid natural gas;   transporting the second vessel to a third location;   off-loading the mixture at the third location;   separating the mixture into the second gas and the liquid natural gas; and   recycling the liquid natural gas to the second vessel.   
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the second vessel is the first vessel and the third location is the first location. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein the third location comprises a location for selling the second gas. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein recycling the liquid natural gas to the second vessel further comprises cooling the second vessel. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 78 , wherein separating the mixture further comprises
 separating the liquid natural gas cryogenically;   directing the liquid natural gas to a condenser; and   directing the liquid natural gas to the second vessel.   
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82 , wherein directing the natural gas to the second vessel further comprises cooling the second vessel. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83 , wherein cooling the vessel further comprises pre-loading the second vessel with liquid nitrogen.